Charles G. Widdén recordings from the 1910s and 1920s. Columbia, Edison and Victor Records. Songs, stories and poems by Gustaf Fröding, Oscar Stjerne and J. L. Runeberg.

ARTICLES
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_G._Widdén
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Engström
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustaf_Fröding

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johan_Ludvig_Runeberg
https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Stjerne

IMAGE 01
Nordstjernan (December 1,1910): "COMEDY, CONCERT, DANCE Saturday December 3rd at Mænnerchor Hall presented by THE SVEA CHORAL SOCIETY assisted by America’s foremost Swedish humorist, cartoonist and impersonator. Charley Widdén has promised to give us an evening of laughter, the likes of which we have never seen in these parts. And that he is the man to keep such a promise is known by all who have made his acquaintance. As a storyteller Widdén is unsurpassed in Swedish-America, thanks to his great ability to faithfully reproduce Swedish dialects such as the one from Skåne and others in English. He will perform as a tramp, cartoonist and impersonator of characters from everyday life etc. SVEA will sing its best songs under the leadership of director Arvid Åkerlind. PIANO SOLO by Mr. David Elville, who will also accompany Mr. Widdén. DANCE MUSIC provided by the band Framåt (Forward). DANCING ALL NIGHT. Admission, including hat check, 50¢. Tickets available at the usual sales locations."

IMAGES 03-04
Svea newspaper (January 26th and February 2nd) On Thursday February 3, 1921 Charles G. Widdén was scheduled to perform at Horticultural Hall in Worcester, Massachusetts. Demand for tickets was so great that a second show was added for Saturday February 5th. Assisting Widdén were piano accompanist David Löfström and Björks Orkester. Thursday evening's program included the following songs: "Genom Sotat Glas", "Mi Lella Adolfin" and "Nödbroms Visan" as well as two poems by Oscar Stjerne: "Diktarelott" and "Ett Un'li't Folk". Many more goodies were expected from Widdén’s extensive repertoire, which had made him well-known as a provider of laughter throughout America. Svea newspaper wrote: “In these dull times people certainly need a little merriment. And thus have we residents of Worcester been waiting impatiently — as if in a fever — for Charles Widdén, who tomorrow evening is coming here to entertain us at Horticultural Hall. We need a good laugh.”

"Stôlliheta I Vala" is a short poem by Fröding that followed "Diktarelott" on the record. Widdén’s recording of "Soldatgossen" presented the first verse of Runeberg's poem as recited by a clergyman, farmhand, Stockholm gent and ten-year-old boy. Widdén sometimes performed as the tramp "Kolingen", a humorous character popularized by Albert Engström. Widdén's live "impersonations" were essentially monologues such as the ones he recorded for Columbia and Victor Records. 

BONUS POEM

In 1902 "Prärieblomman" almanack published Gustaf Fröding's poem "Narkissos" in a translation by the Swedish-born writer and poet Ernst W. Olson. (See JPEG and PDF files for text.)

FRÖDING WORKS RECORDED BY WIDDÉN
Bergslagstroll
Dumt Folk (not released)
Farväll
Gå På Dompen
I Bönhuset
Jäntanes Frierfal
Jäntblig
Skogsrån
Stôlliheta I Vala
Svampinjoner
Tre Trallande Jäntor
Ä Du Mä På Dä

STJERNE WORKS RECORDED BY WIDDÉN
Diktarelott
Ett Un'li't Folk

RUNEBERG WORKS RECORDED BY WIDDÉN
Soldatgossen (parody)
Sven Duva

RUNEBERG LYRICS
https://sv.wikisource.org/wiki/Soldatgossen
https://sv.wikisource.org/wiki/Sven_Duva

VIDEOS
Narkissos (Narcissus)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNHGjvYJ-j8

Sven Tuuva (Sven Duva)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGf5USJviVM